Turnover Tuesdays I

It turns out that sitting across a landscape pond buttressed by trees, whose leaves attempt to evade the setting of autumn without success, is peaceful. Somehow I’ve spent the past four years here and must have passed this spot a million times over, and I never noticed how calming it could be. I’ve found other cute silent niches across campus, and yet, the very obvious one was oblivious to me.  

Funny, life can be ironic like that.

I’m guessing there is irony in being let down by the people you thought would always be by your side?

I’m guessing there is irony in me and you mistaking the reason that God sent His son to dwell with us?

I’m guessing there is irony is me sitting here relaxing but still working?

Not so funny.

Everyone in Israel was waiting for the promised Messiah… you know the one of whom was said:

            “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9 vs 6 (KJV).

They wanted retaliation against the Roman government. They wanted freedom form physical oppression, physical pain, physical poverty… everything needed to be turned over in the physical.

He didn’t come to do that… *shocked look on my face in physical pain (not literally!)*

What then did He come for?

“He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” – Luke 24: 25-27 (NIV).

So he wasn’t set on liberating just the physical pain… emotional hurt… mental abuse etc… It was more than that. Complete turnover actually. He came to free us (me of not just my physical face pain (pain not literal!) but also my soul pain).

I just want all my worries to go away. We just want all our worries to go away. The Israelites just wanted the Romans to go away and so they mistook the mission of the Messiah.

I’ve been making such mistakes – thinking I just need Him to get through life, thinking since He saved my soul then what is the point of all this meandering

            Its just got be all meaningless – this life. So what is the point?

But then He cared enough to leave His Heavenly business to spend 33 years among us. He knew that He alone could give hope to mankind. So He died on all of our behalf, was made sin such that if we believed in this crazy idea, we would be saved.

Its crazy – ever heard of a King who died for His people?

Its mind-boggling – ever heard of a King who not only has the power to heal those physical worries (yup! He could’ve just called fire and brimstone on the Romans, and yet He didn’t) and also save your soul at the same time?

This realization makes me do a complete turnover everytime… and yet, I always forget time without number what He has done for me, and I fall and stain the beautiful robes He has adorned me with.